Blackberry plant named ‘APF-122’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant named ‘APF-122’. Characteristics include its precocity, high soluble solids (even at the red-black stage), very little postharvest reddening (&lt;10%), heavy over-crops on its compact primocanes such that a floricane crop would generally not be economically viable.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Blackberries (Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson) are a well-known, aggregate fruit that are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Recent efforts at the University of Arkansas, using traditional breeding techniques and testing selections under mild climate conditions along the western coast of the USA, have led to the development of the world's first primocane-fruiting cultivars. Primocane-fruiting blackberries, in contrast to floricane-fruiting types, provide growers with the ability to produce fruit on first year canes (i.e., primocanes), as well as second-year canes (i.e., floricanes). In addition, primocane-fruiting blackberries produce fruit in late summer to autumn, whereas floricane-fruiting types generally fruit in early to mid-summer. The ability to extend the harvest season offers fresh market growers a significant economic advantage.

One example of an existing primocane-fruiting blackberry variety is ‘APF-45’ (marketed under the trade name ‘PRIME ARK® 45’), U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,449. Another example of an existing, patent-pending primocane-fruiting blackberry variety is ‘Camila’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,368. A further example of an existing primocane-fruiting blackberry variety is ‘Reuben’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,497.

Compared to ‘APF-45’, the present cultivar, ‘APF-122’, is different because the fruit size is smaller (5.8 g vs. 8.8 g, on average) and significantly earlier in fruiting season (average ripe fruit date for primocanes on ‘APF-122’ is 5-6 months after planting vs. 8-9 months after planting ‘APF-45’).

Compared to ‘Camila’, the fruit shape of ‘Camila’ is elongated, while the fruit shape of ‘APF-122’ is round. Fruits of ‘Camila’ have only moderate firmness, while ‘APF-122’ is very firm.

Compared to ‘Reuben’, the fruits of ‘Reuben’ are much larger than ‘APF-122’, averaging 14.5 g versus 5.8 g, respectively. Also, ‘Reuben’ is a late-fruiting variety, while ‘APF-122’ is considered early for a primocane-fruiting type. The fruits of ‘Reuben’ are oblong and blocky, while fruits of ‘APF-122’ are round.

Distinctive characteristics of ‘APF-122’ include its precocity, high soluble solids (even at the red-black stage) and very little postharvest reddening (<10%). ‘APF-122’ is also unique in that it over-crops so heavily on its compact primocanes that a floricane crop would generally not be economically viable. Normally in commercial practice, primocane-fruiting

blackberries are pinch pruned (i.e., the tips are pinched out at the appropriate stage of growth) in order to force more fruiting laterals. However, in the case of ‘APF-122’, given its high yield potential and precocity, it may prove that in commercial practice that the need for such pinching may be reduced or even eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing fruit of the Blackberry cultivar ‘APF-122’ at the ripening stage, along with crop load on one-year old canes. The photo was taken of plants having a crown aged of 1 year and cane age of 8 months.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the full plant the Blackberry cultivar ‘APF-122’ at the flowering stage. The photo was taken of plants having a crown aged of 3 years and cane age of 8 months.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an exemplary fruit of the Blackberry cultivar ‘APF-122’ exhibiting color in accord with Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Black Group 203A. The photo was taken of fruit from plants having a crown aged of 3 years.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note: statements of characteristics herein represent exemplary observations of the cultivar herein and will vary depending on time of year, location, annual weather, etc. Where dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations and averages. The descriptions reported herein are from specimen plants with a crown age of 1 year and a cane age of 8 months that were observed in summer 2013 in Watsonville, Calif. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart (Fifth Edition) of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Cultivar name: ‘APF-122’. -   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Rubus Subgenus Rubus Watson.         -   Common name.—Blackberry. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Name: ‘APF-45’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,449.             Compared to ‘APF-45’, the present cultivar, ‘APF-122’, is             different because the fruit size is smaller (5.8 g vs. 8.8             g, on average) and significantly earlier in fruiting season             (average ripe fruit date for primocanes is 5-6 months after             planting vs. 8-9 months after planting ‘APF- 45’).         -   Male parent.—Name: ‘A-2286’. This was a proprietary breeding             line that was never patented. This line has been discarded             due to winter injury susceptibility. ‘A-2286’ is thorny             genotype with thornless alleles. ‘A-2286’ is larger than             ‘APF-122’, has taller canes, and was later ripening as well             as fruited only on floricanes.xxx

The new and distinct cultivar of blackberry originated from a hand-pollinated cross of Arkansas selections ‘APF-45’×‘A-2286’ (non-patented, unreleased genotype; male) made in 2003 and located near Clarksville, Ark. (West-Central Arkansas). The botanical designation of the new cultivar of blackberry is Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson.

The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouse in the winter to early spring of 2004 and planted in a field near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited in the summer of 2005 on floricanes and one seedling, designated ‘APF-122’, was selected in 2005 for its firmness and low-acid flavor, good crop potential, early primocane bloom and plant health.

During late summer of 2005 the original plant selection was propagated asexually from root cuttings at the above-noted location, and a test row of 20 plants was established. Subsequently, larger test plantings have been established with asexually multiplied plants at Clarksville, Ark. and Watsonville, Calif.

The new cultivar has been asexually multiplied annually since 2006 by the use of root cuttings and by rooting adventitious shoots from root cuttings. It forms new shoots from adventitious buds on root cuttings readily. During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of the original plant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared.

-   General description: Plants of ‘APF-122’ have moderate vigor, but     are highly precocious. Actively growing canes tend to shift from     vegetative to reproductive state at approx. 0.75 m in height and do     not require pinching. Canes are erect in growth habit, even in Year     1, and are of small to medium stature. ‘APF-122’ can be considered     to have a vase form/shape with a growth habit of erect canes. The     height averages 1.1 m as measured from cane base to cane apex. The     spread is 33 cm as measured from leaf tip to leaf tip. The time to     initiate and develop roots from adventitious shoots is 30 days. Root     growth in spring and summer is fibrous and spreading to the width of     the aerial canopy, generally with a 75:25 ratio of brown lignified     coarse roots and off-white fine (feeder) roots, respectively.     -   -   Growth.—Plants of ‘APF-122’ have moderate vegetative vigor             and erect growth habit. Primocanes emerge both from the             crown of the plant as well as from the roots (as suckers).         -   Growth rate.—The growth rate of ‘APF-122’ is moderate, with             canes reaching 1.2 meters in height within five (5) months             of emergence.         -   Productivity.—Moderate (see fruit yield). ‘APF-122’ is             considered to be economically viable under comercial             production systems in California, USA.         -   Cold hardiness.—Unknown.         -   Branching height of the plants.—Natural branching occurs,             but is variable. Typically, starting at about 0.5 to 0.75 m             in height, fruiting laterals begin to elongate at nearly             every node. -   Canes: The following discussion is directed to primocanes; floricane     data is omitted because this cultivar is strongly     primocane-fruiting.     -   -   General description.—Thorny, erect.

Base Middle Tip Diameter: 0.9 cm 0.8 cm 0.3 cm Length: 1.1 m Number of Nodes: 31 Internode length: 3.6 cm 2.8 cm 1.8 cm Number of canes/hill: 4-6 Cane Color: RHS 143A Predominant branch distribution: Only on upper half. Spines (present or absent): Present Density: 3/cm² 3/cm² 2/cm² Shape: Acute Length: 0.9 cm Width: 0.2 cm 0.1 cm 0.05 cm  Apex descriptor: Lanceolate Color: Base = RHS N144D Tip = RHS 166B Texture: Glabrous Attitude: Upwards

-   -   -   Bud shape.—Acute. Length: 0.9 cm. Diameter (base): 0.3 cm.             Diameter (tip): 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 195A. Texture: Pubescent.

-   Foliage:     -   -   General description.—Leaves during vegetative growth are             pentafoliate, while leaves which develop on fruiting             laterals are trifoliate. All leaves have abaxial trichomes,             soft to the touch. The adaxial surface of the leaves have             fewer trichomes and are rugose to the touch. The leaflets             are triply serrate. There are small spines on the under-part             of the leaf rib. The petioles and petiolules often have a             deep red hue under full sun conditions, yet tend not to             develop the pigment (i.e., remain green) under high tunnels             covered with plastic film, which diffuses light. It is             common for petioles to partially develop pigmentation, often             only at the distal and basal portion. High tunnels placed             over blackberry plants in California during bloom is             considered standard practice. Plants of ‘APF-122’ used in             this description were observed while under high tunnels.

-   Leaves:     -   -   Complete leaf.—Length: 19.2 cm. Width: 17.4 cm. Number of             leaflets: 5.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Size. Length (cm): 8.3 cm. Width (cm):             7.1 cm. Length/Width ratio: 1.17. Shape of apex: Acuminate.             Shape of Base base: Cordate. Margin: Triple serrate. Upper             leaf texture: Smooth with mild interveinal puckering. Lower             leaf texture: Pubescent. Number of serrations/leaf 139.             Shape of serrations: Flexuous — Flexuous. Color. Upper             surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 138A. Venation             pattern: Alternately Pinnate. Venation Color: Upper surface:             RHS 146D. Lower surface: RHS N144D. Leaf pubescence density:             Moderate. Color of leaf pubescence: RHS 157D. Shape of leaf             in cross-section: Simple Cordate Leaflet. Number of             leaflets/leaf: 5. Interveinal blistering: Moderate.             Glossiness: Moderate (upper leaf surface only).         -   Primocane leaves.—Petiole length: 7.3 cm. Petiole diameter:             0.2 cm. Petiole color. Upper: RHS 143A under diffuse light             conditions (i.e., under a high tunnel covered with plastic             film). RHS 183B (under full sun conditions). Lower: RHS             144B. Petiole texture: Pubescent. Petiolie strength: High             (does not detach easily, even in dormancy). Rachis length:             3.7 cm. Rachis color: RHS 143A. Rachis texture: Pubescent.             Stipule length: 1.6 cm. Stipules per leaf: 2. Stipule width:             1.6 cm. Stipule color: Accent — RHS 165A Undertone — RHS             143A. Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 138A.             Stipule texture: Pubescent.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 8.3 cm. Width: 6.7 cm. Rachis             length: 3.7 cm.         -   Distal lateral leaflet.—Length: 7.85 cm. Width: 6.15 cm.             Petiolule length: 1.8 cm. Petiolule color: RHS 143A.             Petiolule texture: Pubescent. Petiolule strength: High.         -   Basal lateral leaflet.—Length: 7.0 cm. Width: 5.2 cm.             Petiolule length: 0.5 cm.

-   Flowers:     -   -   Time of flowering (50% of plants at first flower).—June 15             on primocanes.         -   Size.—Length: 1.3 cm. Diameter: 4.3 cm.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 0.1 cm. Diameter: 0.6 cm. Color: RHS 141C.             Pubescence: RHS 157D. Texture: Smooth with few undulations.             Strength: Very high.         -   Perianth.—Flowering trusses shape: Truncate.         -   Petals.—Color (upper and lower): RHS NN155B. Number per             flower: 5. Shape: Elliptical. Length: 2.0 cm. Width: 1.3 cm.             Apex descriptor: Rounded. Base Descriptor: Truncate. Margin             descriptor: Crenate.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5. Length: 0.6 cm. Width: Base — 0.5 cm             Middle — 0.4 cm Tip — 0.05 cm. Color: RHS 143B. Apex             descriptor: Acuminate. Outer texture: Pubescent. Inner             texture: Pubescent.         -   Margin descriptor.—Entire.         -   Pedicel.—Color: RHS 144A. Length: 4.7 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Strength: Very high.         -   Reproductive organs.—Self-fertile: Yes.         -   Male.—Stamen Number: 178. Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm.             Color: RHS NN155D. Anther Length: 0.01 cm. Diameter:             0.01 cm. Color: RHS 199A. Filament length: 0.6 cm. Filament             color: RHS 155A.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 163D. Amount: moderate.         -   Female.—Style. Length: 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS             149A. Stigma. Length: 0.05 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS             149A. Ovary. Color: RHS 144A.

-   Fruit (the following observations correlate to primocane fruit):     -   -   General description.—King berries of ‘APF-122’ are             medium-large and round in shape, but sometimes develop a             slightly elongated shape. Secondary berries are medium size             and always round. Berries are very firm. There is little             color change (reversion) in drupelets from black to red in             postharvest cold storage and the fruits can be stored for a             long time (up to seven days). There is little to no             incidence of post-harvest decay or rot (during seven days of             storage at 5° C.).         -   Predominant shape.—Round. Weight (g): 5.8 g. Length: 2.8 cm.             Width: 2.1 cm. Length/Width ratio: 1.33.         -   Receptacle.—Length: 2.1 cm. Diameter: 0.8 cm. Color: RHS             142C.         -   Drupelet.—Length: 0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Number: 101.             Weight: 0.3 g.         -   Fruit color.—External: RHS 203A.         -   Internal.—N/A.         -   Firmness of skin.—Very Firm.         -   Firmness of flesh.—Very Firm.         -   Hollow center.—Absent.         -   Number of fruit per node.—5.3.         -   Time of ripening (50% of plants with first fruit).—August 1             on first-year primocanes.         -   Time of fruiting.—August-October.         -   Type of bearing.—Primocane only.         -   Fruit yield.—12,500-14,000 lb/a.         -   Average brix.—11.1.         -   Acidity.—4 (scored on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1=extremely             acid, and 5=no acids detectable. Sensory scoring was done on             fruit that was cold stored at 1.1° C. for 7 days, and then             allowed to warm to room temperature. Titrateable acidity was             not measured).         -   Market use.—Fresh.         -   Keeping quality.—Excellent.         -   Shipping quality.—Excellent.

-   Pest and disease resistance: Trials have shown high field tolerance     to powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis), anthracnose (Elisinoe     veneta), crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens), and botrytis     (Botrytis cinerea). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant named ‘APF-122’ as described and shown herein. 